Pride grab two late wickets to even contest against Red Force

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

Barbados Pride captured two wickets late in the day to wrestle the initiative away from the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the close of play on the opening day of their play-off in the West Indies Championship here yesterday.

Half-centuries by opener Cephas Cooper, captain Joshua Da Silva and all-rounder Terrance Hinds gave the Red Force the upper hand in the contest for the majority of the day, until medium-pacers Kyle Mayers and Shamar Springer struck in the closing minutes to restrict them to 298 for seven after 89.3 overs.

Those wickets undid the earlier hard work by T&T’s batters, who justified Da Silva’s decision to bat first at the Coolidge Cricket Ground after winning the toss.

The Pride reaped early success when fast-bowler Johann Layne had Evin Lewis caught behind for seven with just 16 runs on the board.

However, Jyd Goolie joined forces with Cooper and together they frustrated their opponents during a 102-run stand for the second wicket.

Barbados eventually got the breakthrough when Springer had Goolie caught behind by wicketkeeper Leniko Boucher for 33, and four runs later Layne dismissed Jason Mohammed for a duck to leave the score on 122 for three.

Cooper looked a sure bet to reach three figures, having progressed into the 90s, but he was denied his first century of this year’s tournament when he was dismissed by left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican after reaching 93 off 161 balls, inclusive of 16 fours, as the Red Force slipped to 156 for four.

And when off-spinner Roston Chase trapped Jangoo leg before wicket (lbw) for 41, the Pride would have had high hopes of running through the Red Force’s lower order at 194 for five.

However, Da Silva and Hinds had other plans, as they put the Red Force in complete control during a partnership of 103 for the sixth wicket.

While Da Silva was patient and cautious, Hinds, who has been productive with the ball throughout the championship, played a counterattacking role, slamming six fours and one six on his way to notching his seventh first-class half-century.

But with the close of play looming, Mayers broke the stand by dismissing Jangoo via the lbw route for 51 off 74 balls to make the score 297 for six.

And five balls later with just one run added to the total, Springer returned to trap Khary Pierre lbw for a duck to bring the Pride right back into the match.

The in-form Da Silva ended the day unbeaten on 65 off 131 balls with eight fours and will shoulder the brunt of the responsibility if the Red Force are to post a formidable first-innings total.

Springer (2-31) and Layne (2-56) have been the Pride’s best bowlers to date.